Soren Pedersen out at Sorrel Urban Bistro

Soren Pedersen announced Monday that he has ended his partnership with restaurateur Ray Salti at Sorrel Urban Bistro. Pedersen also will not longer serve as consultant at Ray’s Grill or participate in Watercress Catering.

The split, Pedersen said is “a result of a difference in vision for the future of the restaurant.”

Sorrel owner Raed Salti was contacted on Monday.

“It’s not as simple as he left the restaurant,” he said. But he wouldn’t elaborate on the record, saying, “I don’t want to tarnish my restaurant or his reputation.”

Salti said he already has promoted sous chef Michael Nutt, who has been with Sorrel since it opened July 2011.

Pedersen said he is now concentrating on his Currant Kitchen project:

“I am looking forward to devoting attention to Currant Kitchen, my local television show, and I’m grateful for the support of Sorrel Urban Bistro in launching the program. I’m excited about having the ability to pursue enticing new projects,” Pedersen said Monday.

(Currant Kitchen, Where Locals Grow is a new weekly series featuring Pedersen. The series will focus on Chef Soren teaching the audience how and where to purchase locally grown vegetables and local farm raised products. Houston and the surrounding areas, where local farmers raise some of the most deliciously fresh and seasonal products will be the focus of Currant Kitchen. This new local series is being shown on Houston Media Source channels every Saturday beginning May 25th at 10 a.m.; AT&T U-Verse ch.99, Comcast ch. 17, Phonoscope ch.75, Sudden Link ch. 99 and TV Max ch.95. Currant Kitchen episodes are available for streaming online at www.currantkitchen.com.)

Pedersen said he can be found on Saturday mornings at Urban Harvest Farmer’s Market, creating seasonal recipes from locally grown and produced ingredients.